Waters rising and ramps are open

Getting on the water this weekend shouldn't be a problem — ramps are open, waters are rising and so, too, are water temperatures.

The good news for those headed south to Lake Powell this weekend for the big Memorial Day armada is that with the exception of Hite, all of the marinas have concrete launch ramps open.

The latest report shows the main ramp at Wahweap and the Stateline ramp have concrete surfaces extending into the water. The Stateline-A ramp is not open.

The public ramp at the new Antelope Point, east of the town of Page, is closed, The private ramp at the proposed site of a new marina, which will include lodging and restaurants, is open but there is a fee to launch.

The new ramp at Bullfrog, located near boat rentals and fueling docks, is in operation. It was finished last year but lake levels never were high enough to use the ramp. The new ramp is concrete and has a 10-degree slope, which means even larger boats can be launched.

The concrete portion of the old ramp at Bullfrog is still out of the water, but some smaller boats are being launched off a dirt area near the ramp.

The ramp at Halls Crossing was at one point last year the only ramp with a concrete surface extending into the water.

Because of the low water, there are no marina facilities or launch ramps open at Hite.

Within the past month the lake has risen 19 feet.

The hike from the courtesy docks at Rainbow Bridge National Monument is approximately three miles roundtrip.

As noted, all of the state-park ramps are open and water temperatures are rising.

The water temperature at Deer Creek, over the past two weeks, has risen 11 degrees to 58.

Quail Creek, outside St. George, has risen 10 degrees to 67, in two weeks to 64 and Sand Hollow has come up 10 degrees to 68.

Lake Powell's water temperature has come up seven degrees to 67. The temperature at Flaming Gorge has risen five degrees to 50.

The recommendation for those heading out for boating trips over the weekend is to arrive early.

This is especially so for Jordanelle where water access is limited to 300 boats.